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America's Freedom Documents

Education World presents ten lesson plans for teaching about three important freedom documents -- the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Included: Activities that involve students in creating time lines and posters, writing new amendments, and much more.

Imagine turning a $4 investment into more than $4 million! That is what happened when one of the 25 known copies of the first official printing of the Declaration of Independence sold at a Sotheby's online auction for $8.14 million dollars -- a record for an Internet sale. The copy had been concealed behind an old, torn painting; the man who purchased the painting at a flea market bought it because he liked the frame.

Education World presents 10 lessons about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Brief descriptions are provided for each activity. Click any headline for a complete teaching resource.

Editor's note: Most of the lessons below were designed for use with students in grades 5 and above. Some of the activities could be adapted easily for use in lower grades, however.

Interview With the Signers of the Constitution
Students imagine they are newspaper reporters at the signing of the Constitution and write questions would they ask George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.